NHL Best Bets & Player Props for Today, 3/7: Favorites Reign Supreme
Welcome to Thursday, hockey fans, and you know what that means: a big time NHL slate! Thursday is the big day in hockey these days and tonight won't disappoint as we have 12 games on the docket and plenty of avenues to pursue. The major focus of today is sorting the buyers from the sellers as the NHL Trade Deadline is coming up tomorrow and there will be many replacement players going for the sellers.
In today's NHL best bets writeup, you will find the usual trio of best bets that will include a pair of 60-minute Money Lines and as well as a Puck Line bet on one of the best teams in the NHL. Supplementing that is an additional wager to consider that just missed the cut and of course the famous Dog of the Day!
If you like the rationale below, then tail my NHL best bets today. You could even try BettorEdge, the social betting marketplace. Not only is this sports betting platform safe and secure, but it's even legal in 40+ states! Use promo code ALARM while registering to get $10+ in bonus credits after you verify. No deposit is required.
Now, let's dive into my expert NHL Best Bets today!
- Season Record: 110-90-4
- Bankroll: +12.77 units
- Dog of the Day Record: 14-14 (+3.95 Units)
Follow me on twitter @jwaggs10
**All bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.
*Editor’s Note: Bet on any of these NHL best bets today at BetMGM Sportsbook and claim a “Bet $5, Get $150" bonus when you click here.
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/7
Senators vs. Kings Prediction
At this point in the NHL season, I am really trying to target and distinguish the teams that are buying and still playing hard with the teams that are selling and looking to ride out a tough year. That's what we have in this matchup tonight as the Senators play the 2nd night of back-to-back games after losing a game to a Ducks team that was playing an AHL lineup.
It was very evident to me that they just don't care anymore, and I want to attack that head on. Ottawa is one of the league's worst road teams this season at 8-18-1 and have lost 5 straight games heading into this matchup. In addition to the overall woes, they are scoring just 2.7 goals per game over the last 45 days on the road.
For the Kings the time to make the playoff push is now and they've been playing some really good hockey lately. The defense has solidified allowing just 2.4 goals per game over the past 45 days and they've won 6 of their last 10 games while climbing up the Pacific Division standings. I am really digging the run their goaltender David Rittich has put together as well with his near 2.5 GAA since the start of the new year.
As for the wager the Kings aren't great at covering the spread on home ice and the Money Line is pretty chalky so I am going to middle it tonight on the 60-minute line that requires Los Angeles to just win the game in regulation which has much cleaner odds for us to wager on.
- Pick: Los Angeles Kings 60-Minute Money Line (-120 on Caesars)
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes Prediction
Here comes another matchup targeting the sellers at the NHL trade deadline! Montreal is done and they know it and the numbers do indeed show it right now as they've lost 7 of the past 10 games and hold the worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference at -45. That's a damming stat any night but against a team like Carolina that leads the NHL in most possession metrics it's a major mismatch.
It also looks like Sam Montembault will get the start in net for the Habs and he's had a pretty rough stretch just like his team has allowing 3.5 goals per game in January and 3.32 in February. It's just really hard to see how the Canadiens keep up tonight but let's look at the Carolina side of things.
The Hurricanes looked poised again to make a run at the Stanley Cup and while they lack a few things they play great fundamental hockey and that's reflected by their top tier Corsi scores and the fact that they've allowed just 2.3 goals per game on home ice over the past 45 days.
Now, to bet on the Hurricanes you'll have to go the distance on the Puck Line and while that could be tight it's the only option in my mind and at -120 its fair because I think the Canes dominate this game wire to wire so I will be laying down my cash on them tonight.
- Pick: Carolina Hurricanes Puck Line -1.5 (-120 on BetMGM)
Sabres vs. Predators Prediction
With the game totals looking a little suspect today let's take another look at betting on a winner and the Nashville Predators have been doing a lot of that lately.
Winners of 8 in the last 10 outings the Preds have put themselves firmly in playoff position and it would take a major collapse to bounce them out at this point. I like the spot they are in tonight again as they get the Sabres on a back-to-back on the road and that means no Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and that's major. Instead Buffalo looks to send out Eric Comrie who is 1-6 on the season with a whopping 3.86 GAA!
That's the edge right there for me as the Predators goaltending should be able to keep in check a Sabres team that has scored just 2.9 goals per game over the past 45 days on the road. Not much to say outside of that, the Predators are hot and a good home team they should win tonight in regulation.
- Pick: Nashville Predators 60-Minute Money Line (+100 on DraftKings)
Other NHL Picks to Bet on Today
- Edmonton Oilers Team Total Over 4.5 Goals (+115 on ESPN BET)
Expert NHL Prediction: Dog of the Day
- Washington Capitals Money Line vs Pittsburgh Penguins (+145 on DraftKings) HALF UNIT PLAY
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Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.